I just finished reading The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffennegger. Currently I am in a state of shock. I will review this book when I can wrap my head around it. However, I will say that I will probably not stop thinking about this book for some time now. :(
Hello my people. (For some reason I pictured myself giving the Queen's trademark wave just then.) How is everyone? I took a little breather from blogging and the internet for a bit and I come back a little different than I left you. What's so different, you ask? My house is much cleaner. :) A clean home makes me happy. I like order, tidiness and the domesticity of nesting. I'm a nester and I reveled in the simplicity of it, but I'm over it now. ;) Like a moth to a flame, a needle to a vein, I couldn't stay away too long. Ha!
In the midst of my 'internet vacation' I managed to read a few books, which were very good and I think everyone should read them in their lifetime. They are all the work of Miss Jane Austen, whom I admire so very much. First, I read Pride & Prejudice (for the second time). I also read Persuasion (my new fav) and Sense and Sensability. She really is a remarkable writer with such a fantastic insight on human behavior and character. I see all of her books as character studies and she seems to have been a keen observer to write the way she did. My eyes were opened by her particular perceptions of people and how they are dictated by their sense of feeling, situation and general manner. The plots are also at times very complex as every character is interwoven in the beautiful fabric of her creative writing and sharp mind. She is above and beyond her time. Bravo to her! I will revisit her books time and time again. They are simply beautiful. :)
Another way I passed my time away from the BIG, BAD INTERNET was to work. I really love my job so far. I am a little discouraged, but only by the feelings any new job brings out in someone. Insecurity and lack of confidence. It's never easy starting something new, but I am giving myself time to adapt and hope that time and experience will work out all the kinks.
Aside from that, all is as it has always been.
Yippy skip. I got some new books to peruse. I don't know when I'll have the time to read them, but I'm going to try. Have any of you read any of these and are they good, bad or ugly?
I'm taking this post idea from a friend of mine. I thought it was a great idea and a way to expand the dialogue between bloggers. The challenge is to name your top five favorite books and explain why you love them. You can only have one number one favorite (obviously). Hopefully I can get some good reading ideas from others posts. So let's try this...
By the way, this is difficult for me because I love so many, but I'll give it a shot.
5. Memoirs of a Geisha: I remember where I was when I read this book. I was lying in my bed when I opened it, wanting to read something to put me asleep. I didn't get any sleep that night because I COULD NOT PUT THE BOOK DOWN! I remember within the first few paragraphs I felt swept into another place and time in the life of a Geisha. 
It is beautifully written with vivid characters that you will never forget. It is extraorinary and the writing is superb. The author, Arthur Golden, paints a world of the life of a beautiful, young girl sold into the life of a Geisha and her transition from child to temptress and seductress, but more importantly..artist. This book completely changed my misconceptions of what a Geisha was. There was much more to them than just dressing like dolls in kimonos and having sex for money. No, no, no. Yes, some Geisha houses did that, but we are talking top of the line, 'real' Geisha's here. They were given strict guidelines, cultural knowledge and years of training in the arts before they could even think of making a dollar. Their goal was to achieve a level of success at the top. Believe it or not, there was a heiarchy to this business and everyone wanted to reach it, because that's where the men of power were. These Geisha's weren't trading their virginity for a measley Benjamin. We're talking mucho dinero here! What's Japanese for helluva lot of money?
Being a Geisha is/was an art form and by the end of the book, you respect their level of dedication to their craft. I loved this book because of it's literary ability to completly remove me from my bedroom to the streets of Japan and into a secret life of glorified prostitution. It was written so beautifully that you can envision each face perfectly, each beautifully designed kimono, each golden sunset. Ahhh....what a great book. Talking about it has me itching to re-read it.
4. The Thorn Birds: I heard about this book for years before I picked it up. When I read a synopsis I wasn't very interested...a story of a family on a sheep shearing farm in Austrailia? Booooring! WRONG! It was and is EPIC! I have written a review of this book on my blog before, so I'll make this brief. Yes it is the story of the Cleary family who travel from New Zealand to Austrailia to better their 'station' in life. It follows, and centers around, young Meggie Cleary as she grows into womanhood and who would ever think that the one person she admires and gets her worldy advice from is a Priest? 
Father Raplh De Bricassart comes to know Meggie as a young girl and the are instantly connected and form a close bond. She looks up to him and puts him on a pedastal, almost as if he were God himself. He sees her as the child AND lover he will never come to know because he has chosen celibacy and priesthood. As she grows into a beautiful young woman they both struggle with their feelings and he with his promise to God. This is a tale of forbidden love, struggle, betrayal, religion and lessons learned, and not learned. In the CLeary family, we learn that what goes around will always come back around.
Colleen McCullough wrote this sweeping tale with an amazing imagination. Every detail of the Outback and Drogheda (their home)was described so wonderfully that I could see it clearly in my mind's eye. Even when not reading the book, my mind could take me all around Drogheda into it's secret places and dusty and dry landscapes. Yes, sometimes the descriptions were a little too wordy, but it was fantastic nontheless. This is more than a he loves her, she loves him but neither could have eachother, drama. It is of epic proportions, questioning God's love for one and not for another, suffering through loss, love, being poor and being wealthy. It's also a story of ambition and greed. How much would you sacrifice to get to the top? Father Ralph went all the way to the Vatican, but once he got there did he have all he had hoped for? He didn't not have true love and he didn't have Meggie. Sigh. This is such a great read. I give it 10 stars and think it should be a part of American literature, truly. I personally loved this book because of the emotions it evoked from me. I don't cry lots while reading because in the back of my mind I'm like, it's fake, but these characters are so three dimensional that you invest in them. You root for them and you feel what they're feeling. For me, that is what great writing is all about. I cried my eyes out when Ralph came to visit Meggie on the island....when he pulled up in that car and she saw him. GASP! It is definitly a slow motion moment. I saw the mini-series after reading the book, it was a good B rate film, but lacks a little too, as all films do when they're coming from print.
3. Pride and Prejudice: 
This book is so wonderful. I read it before I saw any of the movies and I was an instant addict to all things Jane Austen. Her characters are so complex, funny, witty, loveable and on and on. This story is so great because it is set way ahead of it's time and the plot can span centuries. Elizabeth Bennet is my most favorite fictional character of all time. I think of her often, does that make me weird? Anyway, and Mr. Darcy...! He is every woman's dream and Jane constructed the most ideal storyline. Woman meets handsome man, discovers he's formidable, without humor, insensitive and lacking the good graces to call him a true gentleman, not to mention...he's a snob! Man meets woman, we have no idea what he's thinking, but it seems that he looks down upon her and her 'embarassing' family. Woman percieves man wrongly, man percieves woman wrongly. Pride and Prejudice gets in the way of the ulimate love. I never get tired of this book, nor the movies. If you haven't read this book...what are you waiting for? It's entertainment and exquisitly written from page to page. I love this novel because it reads much like a fairytale, without any of the pixie dust. I fall in love with Darcy all over again everytime I read it. What he does to help her family....priceless. It also speaks strongly about the bonds of family and it's amazing that Elizabeth is so strong and independant for her time. Bravo Jane!
2. Harry Potter How could this series not be in my top five? I know it's unfair to put a series here, but I have to include them all. I think it was while reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone when I literally fell in love with reading. 
This series transports the reader into another world entirely, a world of magic and make believe, but the essence of it's tale is love. Good vs Evil is what drives this series that is a woven web of characters and magical places. I cannot do JK Rowling justice with my mediocre review, however it is a story I will take with me forever, and that is saying a lot. I often times forget if I even read certain books, but can remember specific details, theories and characters so well from HP that you'd think it was my own life. Wonderful writing, enchanting storytelling, compelling characters, strong messages and interesting plot lines. There is only one word to describe this series for me...Magical. It's a tale about friendships, family, right and wrong, loss, forgiveness, deceit, family etc....everything that real life is all about is thrown into this world of wizardry. How did she pull this off? I will never know. She created a whole new world, a new language, new species and spells...and guess what? You are made to believe it. That's talent. These are books I cn read again and again and again...and have.
1. The Diary of Anne Frank I first read Anne Frank when I was 14. I was instantly absorbed in this young girl's life in hiding and then you realize...wow, this is real. 
I have read this book about ten times over the years, so much that I had to buy a new one because the old one was falling apart. This isn't the diary of a young girl, but more about a young woman. Anne's writing is imaginative, descriptive, engrossing and intelligent. You have to remind yourself that this isn't a seasoned writer, but a girl writing to her beloved diary, Kitty. As a young girl myself at the time, I could instantly relate to Anne. She had a lot of the same thoughts and fears that all young girls do...concern for friends, having crushes on boys, being under the watchful eye of your parents, trying to find your own independance, having issues with your mother and trying to discover who you are. This is a coming of age story, but unlike most we get to read about, she is coming of age in an cramped attic hiding for her life because she was a Jew.
This story never fails to break my heart and rip it out of my chest. Anne had to hide away for years, they went hungry, got ill, never got to go out into the sunshine, yet she remained optomistic that there was good in the world. Even though they were hunted like animals and millions were killed and burned for no reason, she continued to find the good in people. That is the lesson that I learned from Anne.
Anne's words are written so eloquently. It's so compelling to read the words she wrote and shared her experience in the Secret Annex. She never knew the power that her words have evoked from millions of people. She really is an inspiration to me and I'm sure millions of others all over the world. When I get to the end of the book I always cry my eyes out. She sacrificed her life, as did millions of others. The numbers and truths are staggering and a nightmare. To think of what this sweet Anne had to endure in those camps is almost too much. I believe everyone should read this before they die and that it's a nessecary piece of literature. It is that profound.
I have thought of purchasing the Amazon Kindle for quite a while. When I heard of this invention I was really impressed. I read a lot and there are times when I want a book and don't want to go to the bookstore or order one. I am an instant gratification shopper. I love the concept of online shopping, but I hate the wait. With the Kindle, you just download what you want and BAM, there is your book in your hot little hands in just a few seconds. Pretty groovy.
The features are also pretty cool:
- Kindle reads like the written page, no eye strain like with an LCD.
- Books are MUCH cheaper
- It saves paper ie: TREES
- No wi-fi is needed, so you can take it anywhere
- The battery lasts for days
- It has audio, so if you get tired of reading, just set it to audio and it will read to you
- Built in dicionary for clarification
- No monthly fees and no hassles
- Download books in seconds and more
The concept of this book reader is genius and it has a ton of great features.
This little device is just so smart. My reservations....the PRICE! It retails for $359.00! That's kind of ridiculous. How long would it before someone (Apple?) comes up with something cheaper, and quite possibly tweaked and a little better?
Another reservation I have is the book buying experience. I love the library and bookstores. I enjoy purusing various books and glancing inside the covers. I don't mind actually flipping pages. Never before has it caused an injury. I own thousands of books and enjoy being around them. Call me a weirdo, but I just like collecting them and I rarely re-sell. I have however thrown a book in the garbage because that is where it rightly belonged...bodice rippers can be so trashy and to think my grandmother reads those...BLECH!
What will become of bookstores if this product takes over? It's unlikely with the steep price, but what will happen when they come out with a much cheaper version? Will you buy it? Do you have a Kindle and if not, have you thought of buying one?
Will schools use this item instead of actual text books? The ideas are endless here. Technology...it's insane how far we've come. I was thinking about how lazy we've all become. I mean, you don't even have to leave the house to buy books or clothes and even groceries anymore. 
How did this blog go from Kindle to my secret life confessions? I don't know. Maybe it's the ADTD I have acquired. (Attention deficit technology disorder).
I've been writing on my "book" a lot this week. Sometimes I won't pick it up for a month, then I start writing and can't stop. It needs a lot of editing, but so far I'm really liking it. I'm into my 6th chapter and love the direction it's going. Originally I had a plot fleshed out, but as I was writing things changed and ideas come up that seem to fit more with the flow of the story. It's so fun to mold characters, give them a personality obstacles etc and to create a story for them. Some things I don't like, but will change them when I do a large edit. Anyway, I'm sure this is entirely too boring for you all, but I just wanted to share my excitement. I may even post a chapter here at some point...who knows.
Hope everyone is having a nice week so far :)
This whole Twilight thing has got me discombobulated. First of all...I read New Moon and am now in the middle of Eclipse. I admit...it's boring me. Twilight seems to be the book where it should end....why drag it out? THEN I discovered on SM website that she had written part of a new book called Midnight Sun that explains Twilight in Edward Cullens perspective, but it was leaked online before it was finished. I hungrily read it devouring...she offered it up because what else could she do at this point? Only the first 12 chapters.....but so revealing. It was better than Twilight....I loved it....so detailed, so rich with emotion and explanation. Thanks you Lord that it wasn't a shallow adaptation of Twilight. I am so sad it ended at Ch 12!!!!!! BOOOOOOO! Will she ever finish this? I don't know, but I hope so....such a tease.
I watched The Duchess. I'm a huge sucker for any English film. (p.s. I love the BBC!) and it was so very good. I cried like a newborn baby at the last hour....ugh. If you get a chance....watch it. Keira Knightly is so natural in this role, her performance is incredible.
My love for BBC films is a little obsessive too. I recently found this movie and I am thoroughly obessed with it....it's so fantastic.
Check out the first episode of North and South here:
That's all. :)
So....this whole Twilight book thing had me thinking and what I was thinking was... why am I thinking so much about a book that I really didn't like??? This makes no sense. I'm a sensible person. I read crappy books all the time and never think of them again. Then I realized what was nagging at me so badly....I want to know what happened next! Bad or not, I did kind of care for these characters and didn't want to just slap some duck tape over their mouths and shut them up forever. So I guess what I am saying is that this book musn't been that bad at all. You don't normally get invested in shallow characters do you? I never have and I like Edward and I like Bella and I want to know what happens to them damnit! Yes, the writing may not be the BEST ever and some of the scenes do bring the LOL's at innapropriate and unintended times, but it's a good plot with a lot of suspense and I want to know more about these people.
Maybe I am a literary snob. I've read too many superb books by superb writers that when I came across something that wasn't so "superb" I turned up my snotty little nose at it and scoffed! Then I realized something else. Twilight is written in the first person by a teenage girl....that explains so much and makes me feel so much better. Sigh!
I couldn't take anymore so I went out and bought THIS! 
New Moon is the sequal to Twilight and I have been reading it non stop since I started when I realized...hey...I'm actually liking this. I tried to put my prejudices aside and when I did I became a teenage girl again....standing on the precipice of unrequited love of another species from another time and it's magnificent. Not only is the beginning a shocker (!!!!!), but the fact that one of the biggest characters of the book is practically non existent throughout is a new twist that I didn't expect. Enter the werewolf.
Yes, New moon is predominantly about werewolves and their relation to vampires and in the midst of it all is this one very human, very vulnerable and sometimes REALLY FREAKING STUPID teenage girl. Some of the plot gets entirely too redundant....like the author REALLY WANTS US TO KNOW how she is feeling. We get it....she has a huge hole in her heart. She is hurting......we UNDERSTAND and thanks for the subtelty. No need to spread it out for 200 or more pages. It's crap like that that annoys me about this writer.....HOWEVER (wow I'm using lots of caps in this post), the story holds your attention, as much as you try to ignore some of the writing and foolishness. Despite some of the conflicts I have with the book, I really do enjoy these characters, well, save the main one, Bella, who really annoys me with her lack of common sense to STAY AWAY FROM DANGER GIRL! I love Edward, I love, love, love Jacob (maybe even more right now..shhhhhh). I like Charlie, Bella's dad, all of the Cullens and even some of the "normal" teenagers at her school. They all have distinct personalities and are growing on me.
Anyway...my point....I am trying...I'm giving it a chance and will give you a full review once finished, but if any Zombies or Trolls show up I'm done. Ya hear me?
p.s. visit Mrs. Meyers website...she even made playlists for each chapter that she wrote that explained the "mood" of what the character was thinking and feeling....very intersting....... I like that idea, as I often use music to set the tone for me as I'm writing as well.
Groovy. http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilightseries.html
So I read this little, unknown book recently. Y'all know how much I love to read and I couldn't resist a tale about a vampire falling in love with a human and grappling with his overwhelming desire to kill her. Sigh...How romantic! Perhaps you've heard of it....Twilight?? 
Anyhow, I'd heard that it was compared to Harry Potter but it was more for the teenage set. I thought to myself.."Well I loved Harry Potter and it was for "kids", so I may enjoy this too." Um, no. It certainly doesn't compare to Harry Potter in any way. The only way it may compare is the fact that millions of teenage girls are OBSESSED, I mean OBSESSED over this book series. Only comparison.
First of all let me say that I think the storyline was good, not great. Vampires living amongst humans and going unnoticed (almost). You have to admit...that's a pretty cool plot and you could do so much with it. What I have issue with is the writing. It's just um, not so good. As I was reading it, the minimalist writing style kept jumping out at me and tearing me away from the story itself. It seemed too simplistic and dare I say elementary, but it was written for teens... I kept thinking how I could make the story better. Not that I could, just sayin'. If I'm thinking this as I'm reading, then who else must be thinking the same thing? BUT I see how the teenage crowd would like it...every other page there are longing glances, getting close but not too close, starting at each other's mouths, the anticipation of whether or not he'll drink her blood that he craves beyone anything else in life.......sexy.
JK Rowling wrote with a flourish, describing every detail so that you can see things so clearly your mind's eye. Each character was described and well defines so that you felt as if you knew them personally. In Twilight, all I kept hearing about Edward Cullen (the aformentioned hungry vampire) was how beautiful he was. Beautiful like what? Like Gerard Butler beautiful? Beautiful as in angelic? Devilishly beautiful? Long and lean or muscular and strong beautiful? What the frick kind of beautiful was he???? TELL ME DAMNIT! I knew he had brown hair and amber eyes, but knew nothing of his face. Because I didn't know, I kept imaginging Brad Pitt as Louis de Pointe Du Lac enter the room and give bedroom eyes to young Bella and it just wasn't working for me...arg! I like to know what my characters look like before anything else. Otherwise I make them up in my head (Brad Pitt) and then my vision is skewed ruining the whole damn thing. Not that he is a bad image to have stuck in your mind, but still. Thank goodness the movie is coming out so now I know what Edward & Bella really look like, because she wasn't described well either. All I remember about Bella was that she was pale and had dark hair and I couldn't help but wonder what a man like Brad Pitt would want with a plain little girl like that. Ha!
Now THAT my friends is some beautiful vampire right there! (look up) Oh and by the way....this man (Robert Pattinson) also played Cedric Diggory in HP and the Goblet of Fire. I thought he was very sexy but kept it to myself because he was only in highschool (Hogwarts) and I am not a pervert! Geez!
Speaking of descriptions, I can alsmot recall Jk Rowling's description of Harry Potter to a tee when I first opened the book many moons (ha) ago. Don't quote me on this, but....he had dark untamed hair. A scar on his forehead in the shape of a lightenting bolt, green eyes just like his mother's. Round glasses that were held in place with a piece of tape. He was scrawny and wore old hand me down clothes that didn't match.
See......describe a little better from now on mkay Stephanie? Thanks a bunch!
Ok, enough of Edward's unearthly beauty. I generally liked the book. I admit it held my attention, not to mention that I read it while our power was out during the "hurricane"...in the dark while everyone was sleeping...so the creepy factor of the book went way up. I love the idea of Bella giving up everything for Edward, even though she knew he could kill her at any moment. I also like the twist in the story about the werewolves also living amongst the regular folk and how these two species/animals are co-existing, but also want to kill eachother. It definately keeps the anticipation level up. I was ready for him to bite her neck already and make her immortal, but alas, I have no patience.
Some of the things about the book bugged me to no end. I understand that Mrs. Meyer was trying to give her own interpretation of modern day Vampires. Ex: driving sports cars, wearing normal designer clothes, listenting to cd's, which is all fine and good....but it's a little too late to completley change our views and squash all myths and legends. What I am saying is that I want a little of that black cape wearing, coffin sleeping, superpower having, cliched vampire too! When the bad vampire (can't remember his name) lured Bella into a place to kill her, why did it have to be a stupid ballet studio IN PHOENIX ARIZONA (?) that in no place in the book held any significance? Dumb, dumb, dumb. This moment was built up and it takes place in a well lit, mirrored ballet studio? Pu-lease! What about that creepy set of woods on the edge of town that loomed over the city in dark mysterious fashion throughout all of the novel? How bout having some killing going on there? Hmmm?
Then, when the guy gets mamed...we don't see it cause Bella passes out. Booooo! I want to see some maming and bloodshed alright? I'll probably get some rants from teenage girls from this post. "Like, you're an adult and this book isn't even like for you and like Edward is so sexy and how dare you call Bella plain? Your mama's so fat she has planets orbiting around her and like you're just a ho!" He he he.
Overall, the book was good, but I have yet to read the sequals...maybe after I watch the upcoming movie I will venture on. I think as far as plot line, she hit the jackpot and I wish I'd had this idea before her....gosh darn it anyway! For a first time author she did good...let me not to forget to give credit where credit is due because if the book sucked horribly I wouldn't be sitting here talking about it, now would I?
Speaking of the movie...I am excited to see it, but will not be one of those who is
standing in line on opening night wearing fake fangs and pale foundation. Um...no. Here's the official trailer. Looks pretty good, ya think?
Onto other topics...I'm back to work tonight after a little over a week off. It wasn't a vacation, just the way the schedule fell and I wasn't about to complain about it, but it makes it that much harder to go back. You never know what you're going to get when you walk in there. I always assess the dayshift nurse's faces when I walk in to determine how my night will be. I also check out the rooms....empty =bad. Empty beds means middle of the night admissions which = long and crappy shift. Boy, I just can't wait!
One of the worst kind of pt's to have is an alzheimers surgery pt who is on the Mary alarm. If you aren't familiar with the alarm allow me to explain...it's a bed alarm that goes under their bottom and anytime they try to get up Mary Had a Little Lamb plays loudly awaking all the other patients and works on your already frayed nerves. When someone has alzheimers, this alarm may sound 100 times in a night. You have to run in there because for all you know they could be hanging upside down while their foot is caught in the bedrail or wandering into the hallway pulling their IV line like a dog leash. On top of that, many times they are trying to pull out their NG tubes, Jp drains, Iv's, catheter's etc and are often times successful and you are spending the majority of your time putting these things back in. Many of them also have MRSA and that's a real hoot! "Hold on Mr. Doe...let me gown and glove while you flail on the floor in a pool of blood because that is protocol!" Sometimes you just have to laugh because if you didn't you may find yourself on the floor with them, curled up like a fetus saying Why...Why...WHY?
I had a pt last week who had alzheimers and thought we were trying to set him on fire while we were trying to reposition him. He kicked me right bewteen my breasts and knocked the wind out of me for a good long while. I had my ID on and he hit it squarely....it saved me from getting the sharp hook of his heel in my xiphoid process. Guess you could say I was saved by the badge. Note to self...If I am every choking, I will go stand at the end of his bed.
You also get the "drug seekers". I use to hate that term...but it is one of the more predominant of patients. "My pain is a 10." click, click on the remote with a calm drowsy drug enduced glare. "Can I get my dilaudid 1 mg q hour prn for pain? Oh, and I'm allergic to Morphine, Lortab, Percocet and Demerol." Me: "Well, what kind of reaction did they give you?" Them: "They just made me feel funny." I once had a pt who got 100 demerol IM & 12.5 of phenergan IM q hour and was also on a dilaudid PCA. WTF! I know surgery hurts, but not that damn bad people! They really think we don't know, but we do...we do.
The majority of my pt's are good ones...who's goal isn't to run you to death with little errands such as warm blankets and banana popsicles. We don't have blanket warmers on our units people!
It's funny how the nurses and other staff have come up with things to eat while they are up all night. For instance you can make coke floats, mix sherbert, orange juice and sprite together for a nice little wedding punch, the peanut butter in a squeeze tube isn't bad either...or so I've heard. Or you could also have downtime where you put redbull in small plastic medicine cups and take pictures of people "taking shots" to stay awake and leave them on the printer for the dayshift staff to see. OR you could have water fights with normal saline syringes and run around the halls playing hide and seek. But I've never done any of these things, that is just so wrong and childish, not to mention UNPROFESSIONAL! ;)
Alrighty people....enough of the talky talk. I'm off to do some things then get ready for work. Think I'll wear my cheezy Halloween scrub top tonight. I bet all the older people will appreciate little black spiders dangling from their cute little webs.
Aurevoir!
Tomorrow morning I have to go for my CPR recert and tomorrow evening I begin my very first shift on the floor. Yikes! I didn't find out about the cpr until today, so I need to refresh myself. I hate skilling in front of someone! It's so nervewracking. I also didn't find out about my schedule until today, so we have to do some major shifting around to accomodate my schedule...my husband isn't too happy. He'll get over it. Ha! I found out who my preceptor is, but I don't know her. My boss said she tried to pair me with someone who has the same personality as me...quiet and laid back. I didn't know I was quiet...but I am when around new people. Boy are they in for a surprise....he he he.
I'm not quite ready to start work. I flip flop a lot. One minute I'm ready to get started, the next I'm dreading it. I guess I know now that once I start work, that's it, there's no turning back. I hope I like my preceptor..I'll let you know tomorrow how the first night goes. I hope I can stay awake...
OH...I forgot to mention that I FINALLY finshed reading Gone With The Wind. It is cited by the New York Times as the "greatest american novel". It very well may be as it's the most "american" book I've ever read with the yankee's rebel yell and confederates marching in defeat and all. It took me near forever to get through the book as I only read one chapter at a time. I normally fly through books, but sometimes I had to sit with this one and let it marinate a while before moving on. The civil war era isn't my favorite time in history, but it was interesting reading about the time which is told mainly through Scarlett O'Hara's point of view. To address the slavery issue in the book, it made me uncomfortable, but for the most part the slaves in the story were almost treated like family, so it wasn't as harsh a read. Scarlet O'Hara is probably the most selfish heroine ever written on paper and so many times I wanted to smack her spoiled little self silly. Like Rhett told her...she was throwing happiness away with both hands and didn't even realize she was doing it...and she did and she lost, just when she realized what it is she really wanted from her life.
Scarlett lived her life on the surface of things....gowns, parties, beaux, flirting, barbeques, gaining attention and money then the yankees knocked on the south's front door and everything she thought meant anything was never more. The story is about how people deal with struggle, fear and tragedy. Some rise above and are strong enough to keep going, others falter and fade into oblivion. Only the strong shall survive, as they say, and Scarlett was a rock of strength and what drove her was poverty and hunger...oh and Ashley Wilkes, her sister in law's beloved husband. She finally got everything she wanted...money (thanks to Rhett), but she never understood the value of people instead of things... until it was too late. At the end of the book (and I hope I'm not spoiing anything because surely you all have atleast watched the movie before-gah!)when Rhett decides to leave her, he is so indifferent to her, he just "doesn't give a damn" anymore and that was one of the most heartbreaking parts for me because he is so full of life and loves Scarlett so much but she's too selfish and blind to realize it, then he's just over it, over her. I hated seeing his spirit broken more than I hated seeing Scarlet lose everything...she deserved it. It was also so hard when Bonnie (their daughter) died, I believe that Rhett died right along with her...so sad.
I enjoyed reading about the characters of the book as they were all so three dimensional, but the war part kind of bored me...I know, awful right? It felt redundant...the yankees are coming! the yankees are coming!...over and over. I guess she had to depict the story in a factual manner...so it took forever for the yankees to get there..dang. The backdrop of the book was beautiful, with Tara and it's red clay soil and sweeping willows, the booming and growing Atlanta, the gowns, parties, mint julips, southern gossip with the old crows...I guess I'm like Scarlet in a way....bored with war talk. I think that's the only way I related to her. Overall, I liked it and it's stuck in my mind a lot, that's always a good thing. Read it, but only if you have time...it's much too long.
Good news... I bought two of my school books online at Amazon.com for about $70 less than they would have been in the school bookstore (ripoff!), so I'm happy about that. I was also approved for the scholarship through my hospital that I applied for...YAY! It will cover my books (the ones I hadn't yet purchased), tuition and I'll also have an allowance at the uniform stores here in town for anything I need, ie: shoes, new steth etc... I'm so, so happy because I was beginning to get worried... :0/ So yeah, I've had some good things come about in the last couple of days. I'm so glad about the scholarship. I worried and fretted about it because I hadn't heard anything, then just when I forget about it I get a call. Doesn't it always work out that way?
Exactly 3 weeks until school starts. Oy! I'm kind of getting more excited because we'll be doing our OB rotations and I hope and pray I get to see someone have a baby. How awesome would that be? If it was anything like my births it will be amazing. Lots of crying and smiling and cursing. Ahhh...the joys of childbirth. I remember when I was getting prepped for Aidan's birth and there were some student nurses there. They were all standing in the doorway, smiling at me with big cheesy grins, looking hopeful and uncomfortable. The "head nurse" I suppose, asked if I minded if they watched the birth. I remember calmy smiling and saying "NO!". Very sweet of me eh? I did, however, allow them to watch me get anethesized. I don't recall anyone hitting the floor, but I do remember some mumbling that had a "that's a big ass needle" undertone. Who would have known that not long afterward I'd be in those students shoes? I didn't want students there because I didn't want random people scoping out my va-jay-jay all day. The nurses, the doctor, my husband, my mother and the housekeeper was plenty enough for me.
I loved being pregnant, despite the fact that I felt like a big fat arse and was horribly constipated most of the time. TMI? It's always exciting when you start to have contractions and you go to the hospital and they tell you to go home...again...because it's only Braxton Hicks contractions. Then you come back 3 hours later and they sigh because it's you again, messing up their gab fest and poker game. You get that fun baby monitor and everytime you move you hear this loud WOMP noise that sounds like the baby is doing somersaults. You have every member of your family enter and try to talk to you while you're in the worst pain of your life and they're talking about the most random stupid shit. Your husband is asleep on the lounge chair and every quiet, relaxing breath he takes makes you want to stomp your feet in agitation, but you're too tired to do so. Every hour a nurse walks in with the gloves and the KY jelly and you know you're about to be felt up by a big scary lady, for good reason of course. :0) Then the time comes, it's time to push and you ain't foolin' around because this baby wants to come out, and by golly you want it out. Then you hear a loud, shrill, and a "what the hell are you doing to me?" kind of cry and all of that emotion sweeps over you and you cannot believe the miracle that has taken place. Giving birth is awesome. I recommend everyone try it. It's the best high in the world. Only if you're over 21 of course, and you're a woman, and being with a partner helps too, unless you can afford a good nanny, then I say... GO FOR IT! Labor and Delivery...I cannot wait!
Ok, so I'm finally going to give my review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, since everyone in the world has probably read it by now. If not....DO NOT READ PAST THIS POINT, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, Wow, Wow, Wow, Wow! Bravo Jo Rowling! This is the best book of the series. I felt from the beginning that JK was saying goodbye to all of the characters. The book had the essence of a farewell and it made it that much harder to read. I'm so glad I wasn't spoiled of anything because reading it not knowing anything made it soooo much more enjoyable and exciting. It begins with Harry at the Dursley's, packing his belongings in his trunk to leave. When he was doing that I knew it was goodbye forever. (sniffle). He packed his school books, his school robes, I felt like we'd never see our beloved Hogwarts again.
I'll touch a little on the deaths first. Hedwig... she dies an awful death. I was shocked by this, more than I was sad. She was basically blown up...and the worst part, she and Harry weren't on good terms, that made it worse. Poor Harry. Seeing Voldemort flying without a broom was really creepy too. Dumbledore always said that Voldemort knew magic that he himself didn't even know. Shiver. Harry was lucky he survived that battle, of course Mad Eye Moody doesn't. I was disheartened by his death because it was so soon in the book, which gave that feeling of foreboding. If Mad Eye, one of the best Aurors ever can die, then who's next and what's to come? You definately had the impression that anyone was up for grabs at this point. Later in the book Fred Weasley dies...I was so sad by this because he was one of my favorite characters and he left his twin, George, all alone. Poor George, lying over his brother weeping....ugh. But at this point they were in the middle of the war/battle so you didn't have time to harp on his death...maybe Jo did that to save us from the heartbreak. I mean, little kids do also read this series. Little Colin Creevy, he idolized Harry so much and just wanted to fight for the cause, poor boy didn't stand a chance, did he? The death that really made me cry: Dobby. Little Dobby, died while trying to save Harry. He was so devoted to Harry... When Harry began to dig his grave with a spade when he could have used magic, it broke my heart. He said he was doing it to give his blood, sweat, tears and respect to the good house elf he was. Here Lies Dobby, A Free Elf. Ugh...I really cried at that scene. It was so desolate. Snape: His death rocked me. The way he died was horrible. I wish he had a more dignified death than being bitten by that awful, evil snake Nagini upon Voldemort's command. Lupin and Tonks...they just had a baby, little Teddy. I knew they were both doomed when they made Harry their godfather...so sad. I'd like to believe that they died together, fighting to keep eachother safe. Voldemort is a (BLEEP)!
I loved that Harry, Ron and Hermione were basically on their own and it was up to the three of them to defeat Voldy and save the world. But, I also didn't like it because I wanted them to be able to communicate with others. I loved the scenes of them hiding out and camping out trying to sort through clues. Some people said this was boring, I couldn't disagree more. I loved it. It showed just how close they were and that Hermione and Ron were there for Harry, for better or worse. I was soo mad when Ron left, but the way he came back by saving Harry's life and destroying that horcrux made up for it. He is only human, I'd be scared too if I were him, but he's a loyal friend. I love Ron. I loved how instead of Hermione running into his arms when he came back, she gave him the what for and ripped him a new one. I love her for that. He rightly deserved it too! I loved that Dumbledore left them things in his will, things that had hidden clues. I also loved that we got to see a side of him (Dumbledore) in the book that we hadn't known. How he had once craved power and neglected his little sister Ariana because of his selfish goals. It made him more human and less God like. Flaws and all, he's one of my fav characters of all time. And what happened to Ariana as a child...oh my goodness. I don't know what JK hinted at, but I think she was sexually abused by those muggle boys. If I were Dumbledore's father, I would have hurt them too! Dumbledore was forever haunted by her death. Now I know what he would have seen in the Mirror of Erised. :0(
Let's talk about one of the most shocking parts of the book...Snape. He was in love with Lily Potter. Who would have guessed? I guess we should have picked up on this when all through the series he kept referring to Harry's eyes, which were so like his mothers. And when he was dying the last thing he said to Harry was "Look...at...me." Awww...he wanted to see Lily's eyes as he crossed over. :0( I was so, so sad for him while reading this. It all made sense, everything he did for Harry. He loved his mother and vowed to protect Harry and put his own life on the line all because of love. Sigh. I wish he would have lived to tell Harry this himself, but he couldn't have could he? I felt anger toward Harry's dad James and how he and his friends made fun of and tortured Snape as a young boy. When I read the part about him (Snape) camping out in front of her door to tell Lily he was sorry for what he called her (Mudblood), I wanted to give him a hug. But she had a good head on her shoulders, that Lily. She knew he was dabbling in places that he shouldn't have been (the dark arts). Ultimately she made the right decision to end their friendship, but I'm sure that is what sent Snape over the edge in the end and straight into Voldy's arms. That soul-sucking, evil-loving, Voldemort.
Harry walking to the forest alone toward Lord Voldemort knowing he had to sacrifice himself in order for everyone else to live. I was weeping at that point. He knew he had to die. Dumbledore knew it all along and didn't tell Harry, I was so pissed at him (D) at that point. Harry was prepared to die. He knew he had to and there wasn't any other way. He didn't even tell Hermione and Ron goodbye because he couldn't bare it. He rubbed the resurrection stone and everyone he loved appeared: Lily, James, Lupin, Sirius... His mother smiled and said "You've been so brave." I could have died right there! They knew, I think. They knew what the last mission would be. Harry asked: "Does it hurt?" (sniffle). It was true, he had been brave, always.
King's Cross: Harry is in the world between the living and the dead here I believe. He see's a small naked baby type thing that appears to have been thrashed and it's making a god awful noise and moving around. I think it's part of Voldy's soul, the part that Harry had inside of him. He see's Dumbledore and he tells Harry to ignore the "thing" it can't be helped. Harry stated he wanted to help it, but at the same time was disgusted by it. Creepy. Dumbledore really redeems himself here by explaining everything to Harry and why he did the things he did. He even goes so far as to tell Harry that he is the better man. I loved: "Dumbledore, is this real or is it all in my head?" and Dumbledore replies:"Of course it's in your head, but that doesn't mean it isn't real." Alyways elusive, Dumbledore.
I liked Victor Krum's cameo and how jealous Ron became. I loved reading the section of the book where the trio went to visit Luna's dad. He is just as eclectic as Luna. Ha! I got cold chills when Harry entered her room and discovered she hadn't even been there...I thought for sure her father was a death eater or something. I know he called them to come and get Harry, but he loved his daughter and only wanted her safe. Draco....he owes Harry everything. I know Harry is the "good guy" but I really wanted to see him torture Draco a little for all the crap he did to Harry at Hogwarts over the years. Hearing Hermione being tortured by Bellatix at the Malfoy manor was just horrible and unbearable. Ron kept screaming her name.... so awful! I loved when Narcissa let Harry off the hook by claiming he was dead. I still think the Malfoy's should all be in Azkaban, surely Lucius is. Oh, Oh....my fav line in the whole book: "Not my daughter you BITCH!" Molly Weasley is the best!
The epilogue: Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny with all of their children at Kings Cross Station and little Albus Severus about to attend his first year at Hogwarts...just brilliant.
I loved the Horcrux and Deathly Hallows theme. Choosing death or rejecting it, evading it. It was awesome. Harry is the ultimate hero because he accepted death, and paid the ultimate price...sacrificing himself, which is something Voldemort could never or would never do, because he knew nothing of love. Harry knew love, knew friendship, knew what he must do to ensure that the world be a better place. The book was amazing. I'm sure there is a lot I haven't touched on, but I can't wait to read it again. I loved it so much and am sad it's all come to an end, even though it was the perfect end.
How many times in this review have I said I love this or that? That's because I loved it all! I will miss Harry and his adventures with his best friends, but it was the perfect ending to a perfect series. Thank you Jo Rowling for giving me and millions of others the pleasure of entering your world. It is a treasure I will share with my children for years to come.
I finished reading the 7th and final Harry Potter book....(sniffles). Sigh...I thought it was completely incredible and I was so connected to the characters throughout the whole book that I felt I was there...rooting for them, grieving with them and feeling their trepidation and awesome bravery. This is why JK Rowling is so brilliant, albeight a book about fantasy, wizards and magic, it is in essence a book about the human condition, morals, loving others unconditionally and the importance, of family and friends and that good always trumps evil, regardless of the sacrifice. The book is very emotional and goes through every feeling imaginable. I feel sad now. I'm sad it's over and there will never be another book.
I don't really have words about the feelings I felt as I read this book. I was so in awe of the discoveries I was making right alongside Harry, Ron and Hermione that sometimes I found myself daydreaming away from the book in my hand and thinking back to prior books referencing my memory and putting things together. I had many ah-ha moments and it was quite satisfying. The whole series was weaved so perfectly and came to such a climax..... I won't spoil it, incase there are fans who may read this, but let me say that there were certain parts of the book where I cried and cried like a big, stupid baby.
The one thing that I love about the ending is that is still leaves room for a lot of speculation. The thing I didn't like about the book is that is still leaves room for a lot of speculation. There are many holes left unfilled and questions left unanswered, but I think some questions don't need an answer. Like in this book, Harry had the answers and Dumbledore wanted him to discover them on his own...and he did. He left him to this quest to find the answers he'd been seeking but the answer was always there...and Harry always knew it, as did the reader in a way.
I wish I could end this blog by saying that I cannot wait until the next book, but there isn't going to be another one is there? So hopefully by doing a re-read I will be able to put more together that didn't jump out at me on the original read. Atleast we'll always have the liberty to dive into the HP world again and again as much as we like, and continue to enjoy ourselves along with Harry and his friends on their incredible journey.
My disgruntled husband and I stood in line last night for an hour and a half and finally I got my hot little hands on the most anticipated book, probably in history. There were people dressed up in all kinds of costumes, young and old. I saw The Fat Lady, Harry of course, Hermione, Moaning Myrtle and Chewbacca. Yes, Chewbacca. Funny, I don't remember his cameo in the books... He was eventually kicked out because of a saber fight with Vader, yeah he was there too. Guess he and Harry are tight. The people with the "Muggle Crew" t-shirts on kept the boxes under tight security, sealed until midnight as told. When the cart carrying the boxes made it's slow way to the front, the crowd cheered. Some people jumped up and down, some screamed, some just stared, like me. I guess you have to be a die hard fan to understand the feeling of seeing those boxes. It's really something. I finally made it to the front of the line, handed the cashier my ticket, and waited with bated breath while she uncerimoniously plopped my book in a bag and sent my on my way with a "NEXT!".
I have only read the first sentence, Snape is having a conversation....I'm scared to read on. I don't want it to be over, as crazy as that sounds. I'm also afraid to read any website pertaining to the book for fear of spoilers. So, until it's complete, I will not venture into any site pertaining to HP. I'm sure all I will be doing for the next few days is reading this book, so have a great weekend everyone...I know I will. :o)
First things first: Check out the new vid -Walk It Out I added to the video column on your right at the top. I lurve it so much.....he he.
Hey folks! I just wanted to mention that this is my 101st post on my blog! Woot! Damn, am I wordy or what? I know this about myself, I consider it one of my weaker traits. I just go on and on and on at times, mostly about nothing at all, but that's ok. Someday I will re-read my posts and hang my head in shame for all of the dull subject matter I forced on you people and when that time comes I will more than likley write a very lenghty blog about just how sorry I am.
Am I rambling again?
Moving on to other possibly boring subjects..... Guess what happens this week? The 5th Harry Potter OOTP movie is playing in theaters!!!! Hey, may be nothing to you, but I'm pumped. Also, guess what occurs next week? The last and final Harry Potter book (Deathly Hallows) is being released!!!!!!!!! Yes, I will be one of those dorks who is standing in line at the HP midnight book release party, as I always have, with my little voucher waiting to be handed a book out of a cardboard box as if it's top secret info from the President himself. I don't know why I couldn't just wait to get my book the next day, but I just cannot. The thought of someone else reading the book and I still don't have my hot little hands on a copy is just too much to bear. Plus, it's always fun to show up and make a little fun of those who act out scenes from the book. Yes I witnessed this once....from adults. I will be staying offline while in the reading process as to avoid any spoilers. There are some freaking speed readers out there just waiting to spill the damn beans. Buggers! Don't worry your heads though, I will be sure to post pics of the crazies I encounter at the bookstore, decked out in their full HP glory. And no, I'm not one of those people, incase you were wondering....
I cannot believe the time has come to read the last tale of Harry and his pals. It has been a great ride. Let me say that I read a lot, as some of you may already know, and of all the books I've read, I believe it is Harry Potter that I have enjoyed most of all. I am so excited, but apprehensive. Will Harry live or die? The prophecy states that "...neither shall live while the other survives..." Take that as you wish, JK Rowling is one smart arse if you must know. She has had readers take that phrase apart a million and one times and we still don't quite get it, but we will find out soon enough. I just hope it isn't a horrible ending. In the last book....
I bawled like a big ole babe. We lil wuss that I am. We all want old Voldy to croak like a toad, but if there is one thing JK never does, it's to make her story predictable, you never know with her, clever that one. We can only hope that this book lives up to all of the years of waiting and wanting answers to so many questions and for Harry for once and for all to have the revenge he, and so many others are entitled. Come next Saturday, many will have the answer to all of these questions....sigh. It's been a long strange trip 'arry.
Yes I've been randomly speaking in a funny Scottish bur. You're not imagining this. I canna help me damn self. I just finished my latest book (see previous post)and if you read 950 pages of this jargin you'd be talking this way too, ya ken? The book was so freakin good. I found myself cluthing it at times out of tension for what was to come. Once, I was so angry at one of the characters, I had the urge to hurl it into the fire and say "burn, burn, burn!" , but I didn't have a fire handy so I just growled a bit and flipped the page. I was so on the edge of my seat I nearly fell off...literally. I think I even did a little nail biting...eww. Gripping, intriguing...I loved it! (Jumping up and down!) I canna wait to read the next in the series- Voyager. I hear it's better than the last. If that book is better than the last I'll damn near piss me pants lad, because that was one bonny of a book.
Allright, allright, the fun stops here. Just make sure the next time you are in a book store check out the HP series and Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series....They're grrrrrrrrrrrrreat!
I finished reading The Thorn Birds today and I must say that I think this is the best book I have ever read in my life. 10 stars!!!!!!!!!!! I will try my best to articulate my feelings about this classic and give an accurate synopsis without giving away the whole book.
The book begins:
There is a legend about a bird which just sings once in it's life, more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves it's nest it searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until it has found one. Then, singing among the savage branches, it impales itself upon the longest, sharpest spine. And, dying, it rises above it's own agony to outcarol the lark and the nightengale. One superlative song, existence the price. But the whole world stills to listen, and God in his heaven smiles. For the best is only bought at the cost of great pain... Or says the legend. (The Thorn Birds, p.1)
From the moment the first page is opened it transports you into another world, a world where faith and love are tested and hard lessons are learned... and not learned. The book centers around the Cleary family, but focuses mostly on seven year old Meggie Cleary, the only daughter amongst a lot of brothers. Born into a poor, Irish sheep shearing family in New Zealand, Meggie is taught right away that she must look after herself and finds that the only person she can really rely on is her oldest brother Frank. Neither mother or father coddle the young girl or show any affection, only Frank, and she clings to him as if he's the only person who will ever love her.
Fast forward 3 years later...the family recieves a letter from their wealthy, wicked Aunt Mary from Australia asking them to move there and learn to man her sheep and tend to her farm. In return, when she dies she will leave them with a life they never could have dreamed before. Mary is old and knows she hasn't much longer to live, but she's also greedy and wants the money to stay in the family once she's dead. They soon leave New Zealand in hope for prosperity and a new future. After a long journey by land and sea they arrive in the Outback, unsure of what their new future holds.
At 10 years old, Meggie has never seen such a place. Going from New Zealand, where the lands are green and the rain is abundant, to the dry, brown landscape of Autralia was a culture shock for all of the family. Meeting them at the train station, is Father Ralph De Bricassart, Aunt Mary's long time confidante and friend. Standing there in the dusty breeze, long black soutane billowing around him, Meggie felt as if she was seeing God in the flesh. She described him as a beautiful man, full of charm and his blue eyes....what kind, warm eyes. Father Ralph is immediately taken with Meggie, just as she is to him. From that very moment of their meeting, a connection of the spirit and soul was made between them and from that moment on it remained. Father Ralph couldn't put a name to his feelings for Meggie, but he immediately felt protective of her and wanted only the best for her. He saw the wisdom in her grey, child-like eyes and they touched a part of him he couldn't understand.
As Meggie grew older Father Ralph was there to help ease her growing pains and be the "father", and sometimes mother, she never really had. Life on Drogheda (their new home) was hard and rought with difficulties, strife, sorrow and heartache and Ralph was there for Meggie through all of her troubles and her family's pain.
As Meggie grew older, their bond strenghtened, changed, evolved into something he or she couldn't control, but had been there all along...stirring, growing, stifled. Their love was born from the soul, it couldn't be denied, smothered or ignored, not matter who stood in the way...God or man. With that comes the story of forbidden love and human nature that drives us all. Many think that hate is like a cancer that can eat away at you until there is nothing left. But love, a love that cannot be materialized for worldly or material reasons can also eat away at one's soul. This story depicts that fine line between love and hate and demonstrates the rot of the soul that not only comes from ambition, greed and hate, but also from an intense love that is plucked away, never allowed to bloom again.
Father Ralph and Meggie's love for one another is so palpable and heartbreaking. Loving what you cannot have, having what you do not want. Decades of longing, yearning, unable to express their feelings because he is married to the church and God(faithfully) and she must face it to move on. But does one ever move on? How can one move on when a part of your soul rests in another human being? Yes, they do get the chance to express their fleshly desires, their untamed love, but at what price? Selling your soul to the devil? Forsaking God Almighty? What price does one pay when such a vow is broken? Well, you get to find out if you read the book. ;-)
This isn't just a story of a priest and his undying love of a woman...this is a saga that spans across 54 years of a family and their struggles, their sorrows and their loss. It's a story of revenge, jealousy, faith, will, love, life, death, ambition and the cost of one's heart and soul. It's a poetic masterpiece the way Colleen McCullough described the landscape, the inner strife and the emotions of the human condition. From New Zealand to Australia. From Australia to Rome. From Rome to Greece...it's a beautful book. I highly recommend it and personally think that everyone should read it in their lifetime.
Next I am going to watch the mini-series. I have to now damnit! I can't stop thinking of this book and the emotions it brought out in me. It had better be good and it looks as though it might be. I found this little snippet on ...where else? You tube.
Just started reading: The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCoullough
I know this was a mini-series or movie before, but I didn't watch. I will let you know how good it is. I hear it's considered a classic. We will see.
Since this post is about books I thought I'd compile a list of my favorites of all time, and if you aren't reading...you should start. You don't know what you're missing....
Not in any particular order:
-Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden (beautiful and rich)
-Night by Elie Wiesel (leaves you speechless)
-Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (witty, sweet and ahead of it's time)
-The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank (I'll never forget this)
-Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught (heaven of a love story)
-Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (enthralling)(see previous post for review)
-Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (she has a twisted mind)
-Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling (brilliant!)
-East of Eden by John Steinbeck (colorful characters, especially that evil Cathy)
-She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb (relatable to any woman)
-A Million Little Pieces by James Frey (even though we now know he's a fruad and this isn't a memoir, but mostly fiction...it's till worth a read.)
Just finished: Julie Garwood's Ransom. I found this book highly enjoyable, considering it was about 500 pages long. It had romance, mystery and gore all rolled up in one. The setting was the early 1800's and while this book was very complicated and involved I will try to give a short synopsis.
The heroine, Gillian, and her sister Christen were small children when King John's (of England) men took over their village and their home. Before the siege, their father gave the oldest (age 7) sister ,Christen, a jeweled box and told her to hide it and not tell anyone that she had it b/c he wanted to get it to King John unharmed. Apparently this box held many secrets and was tied to King John's dead lover Arianna. Confused yet? Anyway... their father was killed when their home was overtaken and the girls were separated in the chaos. Fast forward 20 years later...Gillian was raised by her kind uncle all this time, but was taken hostage by the evil man Alford, the same man who had taken over her childhood home. He wanted that box before the king could get it and thought she or her sister had it. Gillian had no idea about where the box or her sister was, but Alford had an idea that Christen was hiding in the highlands of Scotland. In his plot to steal this box, he not only captured her (Gillian), but also a little boy...one of the highlander's sons to hold captive as ransom to get her sister Christen to return this priceless box. He enlisted Gillian to find her sister, get the box and return it to him by a certain time or the little boy and her uncle were going to be killed.
Bored yet? Ha ha!
So, Gillian being as cunning as she was escaped with the boy on her search to find her sister and to get the box back so her uncle would be safe. Because Gillian saved this young boy (Alec) the highlander's decided to let the "evil" English woman in their territory to search for her long lost sister to save their dear Uncle Morgan. This is where Gillian met Brodick..also known as Laird Sinclair. Rugged, handsome (ofcourse), arrogant (ofcourse) etc, etcetera. Brodick vows to help Gillian b/s she saved her friend's child from death and the romance between the two ensues and brings up all kinds of obstacles and challenges for both of them. And that's all I'm going to say about that. This book has much more than what I gave away. It's really a journey through time that relies on loyalty, love, betrayal, passion and intrigue. I give it 4 and a half stars, b/c it kept me entertained and I couldn't put it down to find out what happened from one page to the next. Does Gillian find her sister in time? Does her sister have the box? Does Gillian and Brodick live happily ever after in the highlands? Does she save her home and get justice? I guess you'll just have to read it and see..... (enter sinister laugh here).
I have been so use to doing so much of something, that since school has let out all I want to do is a whole bunch of nothing. I feel like a lazy ass. Maybe I'm just not back in the groove of being my normal self. What is my normal self anyway? I've been so disciplined and programmed to THINK, THINK, THINK and RETAIN, RETAIN, RETAIN that my brain is rejecting tedium. I was sitting on my front porch swing the other day watching the kids play, listening to the birds chirp and enjoying the summer breeze when a thought occured to me. "I'm bored out of my friggin' mind." Since when have I had the time to be bored? Then a slow smile crept across my face as I had a second thought..."And I'm lovin' every minute of it."
Sometimes just sitting with your thoughts and going through the motions is a good thing. No one should ever become to complacent and conditioned, in one direction or another. My mind and body are trying to adjust to this new way of life, only if it is temporary. I kind of feel jet lagged or culture shocked in a way. Oh well, I'll get over it and soon will settle in nicely to this lovely new freedom.
I have so many plans this summer. I would like to decorate my house, paint, garden, read, spend loads of time with my family and just be. Being is good. There is nothing else I would rather do than be.
Speaking of be...one more semester and then I'll be a nurse. Hey, did you hear that? That's kinda , uh, scary....and exciting. First semester seems like light years ago. I always tell people that going from first semester to third is like going from kindergarten to college. It's a huge leap and I feel I know so much more now that I ever thought I would. I still feel pretty stupid sometimes and even had a nightmare lastnight that I forgot how to do CPR, but overall I feel good.
Speaking of dreams...have you ever had a dream or a nightmare that followed you around all day haunting you like some nagging song playing in your ears all day? Lastnight I had a horrible, horrible dream and it stuck with me all day and I'd really like to forget it. I won't bore you with details, but I will tell you that I needed to do CPR and I panicked and forgot how! Foreshadowing? Let's hope not. Even in my subconcious REM sleep state I was trying to critically think. (I am programmed) The first thing I did was lay the person on the floor. Obviously. Then I yelled for someone to call 911 and then I tried with all of my might to remember how to do CPR. I froze and just stared and panicked and it was horrible and then I woke up in a cold sweat. Ugh. I hate nightmares. I have a friend who loves to analyze dreams and I guess it's cool, but I'm not so sure that Freudian stuff is accurate. Ex: If you dream of snakes, it means you're going to acquire a lump sum of money by mail....or something or other. What does snakes have to do with money? If I dream of snakes it's usually because I'm terrified of them and I've never been rewarded for that by an envelope full of cash. It's a nice thought though.
This isn't exactly in the same topic, but what is Deja Vu exactly? This happens to me all the time and everytime it does it feels like I'm having some freakish mind trip like "Whoa man, I've done this before..." Do you think deja vu is related to our dreams, our subconcious mind? Could it be because we actually have done it before and maybe in some parallel universe we are living the same life over again? (Scary) If it is perhaps related to our dreams then that may mean that we have all of our dreams stored somewhere in our brains and anytime a similar situation occurs it triggers the dream memory compartment of our mind. This theory may be true because where does all of that knowledge and experience of our lives go? Does it leak out in the middle of the night? Does it fade away and is just gone forever and ever? OR Maybe our brain just has a spastic reaction and it's nothing. Who knows, who will ever know? Do I really care? Not really, but it's interesting just the same. That's some heavy stuff right there. Somebody's got some explainin' to do.
Ok, onto much lighter and fun topics because all of this mind talk has caused my brain to hurt. Did anyone catch the Bachelor lastnight? I'm sure I'm in the minority who actually watches this show, but I can't help myself. It was a good episode. Andy took the 3 girls back to his home of Hawaii and they had 3 romatic dates and he dumped one and Tessa and Bevin are left. I, personally like Tessa. She seems more level headed and not as clingy and needy as Bevin. Bevin cries all the time, she comes on kinda strong (which is probably why he likes her) and isn't nearly as attractive as Tessa, IMO. I don't know why I watch this show because I think that no woman should ever fight over a man on national tv, but it's that same thing I hate that keeps me watching. It's like watching a car crash...you can't take your eyes away.
I watched Idol tonight and am bored with it altogether. I am usually into the show, I just haven't watched it much this season. I would like Blake to win with Melinda second, other than that I don't care. I think that Jordan will have a career whether she wins or not. Her voice is beautiful. Did you notice that Blake's song choice tonight is actually one of my vids on my blog (Robin Thicke-When I Get You Alone)? Groovy.
A great blog I've been reading lately is called the Underwear Drawer, the link is under my fav sites. It's very smart and witty. It's about the life of a new anesthesiologist and her gorgeous Dr. husband who live in Manhattan raising their 3 year old son Cal. Kinda sounds like a reality show doesn't it? It's a cool blog, check it out.
I'm so excited for the new and last Harry Potter book to come out in July. I am so boring right? I heard there are some spoilers because someone snagged a copy. I DON'T WANT TO KNOW ANYTHING! If someone told me what will happen I would come very close to causing bodily harm to them. Reading these books for years and trying to untangle the plot has been what has made the series worthwhile and so fantastic. To have all of that ruined because of someone's big mouth would be just plain mean. I've already warned my husband and he saw that evil flash in my eye. I think he got the hint. lol
I hope everyone has a good Wednesday.
Until next time....
I feel so incredibly guilty right now. I have had all weekend to work on my notes and studying for my upcoming test on Friday and I've done very little of it. That's really not like me, but I just am so burned out and I wanted to spend some quality time with my boys. Is that so bad? I'm feeling the pressure now. I have today and tomorrow off and don't go back to class until Wednesday so I should have had all of this done already. Sigh. Ugh. I hate guilt and I hate deadlines. I have about 9 1/2 weeks left of this semester. That doesn't sound long, but it is. We have 3 more clinicals on the med-surg unit, then we get 2 weeks off (one of those weeks is spring break..WOOT!)then we have 4 clinicals at a psych facility. The psych facility is about an hour away which means I'll have to get up at 4am and leave by 5:30 in the morning.....Lordy. I hope I don't oversleep. I've never been late to class or clinical but my biggest fear is oversleeping and don't think I haven't pulled an all nighter before cramming for a test afraid I'd sleep through it. Don't do it, I felt like a zombie the next day. Once this semester is over I'll have the summer off, (Thank you Jesus) aside from one humanities class (hopefully art) and that's no big deal. Anything is cake compared to nursing. I am sooooooooooooooo looking forward to the summer break. I CANNOT wait!!! Really. Seriously. I'm really seriously serious. I'm counting down the weeks, days, hours and minutes. So where I stand now I have a little over 2 months, 9 1/2 weeks , that's about 66 days, 1584 hours and 95,040 seconds left. Shew! You think I can do this? I've done it everytime before, but this semester takes the cake. I hope you all are doing a lot better than I am, because as of right now I'm hating nursing school. I have to force myself to go everyday....not a good sign. I keep telling myself that if I can make it to the end I'll have the summer off....if I can just make it.... I guess in order to do that I need to get my lazy butt off my blog and study huh? Drats. I hate responsability. LOL
OOhhhh... oooh...guess what else I have to look forward to this summer? Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows is being releases 7-21-07 and I'm soooo excited...and sad at the same time!!! I don't want it to end. It's the final installment of the Harry Potter series...year 7. First of all, let me explain myself. I know I am a dork and all, but this is the best series of books I have ever read in my entire life and I'm not ashamed to admit that. One day while browsing through my sons book collection I saw the first of the series....The Sorcerers Stone. I took it with me outside to have some fluff to read while I tanned. I layed there so long I forgot I was in the sun and I got burned, that is how mesmerized I was from the first page. Fluff it ain't...it's a spectacular, beautiful, fun, intriguing, mystery masterpiece. I have read every single book within the first month of reading the first. And have read a few more than once. I RARELY EVER do that. I couldn't get enough and wanted to know what would happen to our Harry. This woman....JK Rowling had the last book planned when she wrote the first book. She has mapped out this adventure so meticulously it has left all of the millions and gazilliosn of readers searching for clues, hints, and theories for years. She never makes anything obvious. In fact, it's the opposite. She's so subtle with her clues that you think nothing of them..until later. She's a genuis and I don't throw that word around lightly. This book is not for children alone. Frankly, I don't know if children under the age of 13 should even read them, because they're kinda dark and twisty, as Merideth would say. Plus, there are so many twists, turns etc I'm not sure a child would get the full effect. Have I sold these books to you yet? LOL Anyway, there is so many loose ends to tie up in the last book I can't wait to see how she did it and I can't wait to start the whole series again. I hope it's the best one she's ever written. They're timeless. Ok...so enough about Harry Potter. I must get to work and not leave the books until midnight. Have a great day! 
I can't believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve. I love Christmas and all, but I feel more stressed out this Christmas than I normally do. Perhaps it has to do with the family. I love them and all but I can only take them in small, infrequent doses. Plus, I always feel so broke this time of year. Having 4 kids is expensive, especially at Christmas time. Maybe this is why so many people get drunk on New Year's...they're washing away their Christmas time blues. I also dread the taking down of the lights and tree. Ugh!
Anyway...
I finally finished my book Outlander. When I wrote the post about the book I was only 500 pages in. (See Outlander post). It was so good I can't even say, but there are some things about the book I forgot to mention such as....the violence. This book is extremely violent in some parts and I'm not typically squeamish, but DANG! What Black Jack Randall does to Jamie toward the end of the book is horrifying and it was really hard to read. I had to set the book down a couple of times to regain my composure. Also there was a lot of sex in the book , some of it violent and also hard to read. You have to read it to know what I'm talking about, but it's terrible too. THat kind of thing happened a lot in the 1700's though and that is what you have to keep in mind while reading. Glad I didn't grow up them. Ha!
Well, I just wanted to say Merry Christmas to all and I hope everyone gets what they want from Santa.
Peace out!
